UCM 2026 Access Competition: Positions for University Teaching Staff

Key data

The Universidad Complutense de Madrid is announcing vacant positions in university teaching bodies through an access competition, pursuant to the Resolution of 25 March 2026 published in the BOE on 7 April 2026. This call opens a concrete opportunity for stabilisation and career advancement in the public academic sector for academics and researchers who already hold ANECA accreditation.

The process is neither automatic nor purely administrative: it requires passing assessments before evaluation committees specific to each position and field of knowledge. Those without valid ANECA accreditation cannot participate, regardless of their academic track record.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution governs the selection process to fill vacant positions in two university teaching bodies at UCM:

• University full professors: the highest level of the public university academic hierarchy.
• University associate professors: the standard entry-level body following the corresponding ANECA accreditation.

The access competition is governed by current university regulations and is structured around three key elements:

The call is relevant both for those seeking to join a university teaching body for the first time and for those who are already associate professors and aspire to be promoted to full professor.

Economic and operational impact

For successful candidates, gaining a position in a university teaching body means joining the public sector with the remuneration conditions and job security inherent to these bodies. The most relevant practical implications are:

• Job security: positions in teaching bodies are permanent posts in the university public sector, eliminating the precariousness associated with temporary contracts or interim arrangements.
• Public remuneration: salaries are governed by the supplements and pay scales established for each body under university public sector regulations.
• Career advancement: for active associate professors, gaining a full professor position represents a step up in the academic hierarchy with a direct impact on remuneration and academic recognition.
• Cost of the process for the candidate: the call does not specify participation fees in the available information; the full text of the resolution should be consulted to verify whether examination fees apply.

Who is affected?

This call directly affects the following profiles:

• Researchers and academics with ANECA accreditation for the body of university associate professor who are seeking their first permanent position at UCM.
• Active university associate professors with ANECA accreditation for full professor who wish to be promoted within UCM or to join it from another university.
• Academics in interim or temporary contract positions at UCM or other universities who aspire to secure a permanent position through this competition.
• Researchers from CSIC or other public research bodies who hold ANECA accreditation and wish to join the university academic career.

This does not affect contracted teaching staff (assistant doctors, contracted doctor professors, associate lecturers) or administrative and service staff at UCM.

Practical example

A researcher with ANECA accreditation for university associate professor, currently holding a contracted doctor professor position at UCM, may apply for the associate professor positions announced in their field of knowledge. If they pass the assessments before the corresponding evaluation committee, they gain a permanent position in the body of university associate professors, with the remuneration conditions and job security inherent to the university public sector.

Similarly, an active university associate professor who has obtained ANECA accreditation for full professor may compete for the full professor positions announced in their field, thereby achieving promotion to the highest level of the public academic hierarchy.

In both cases, the prior and essential step is to hold valid ANECA accreditation before submitting the application. Without it, the candidacy cannot be admitted.

What should candidates do now?

1. Verify ANECA accreditation: confirm that you hold valid accreditation for the body you wish to apply for (associate professor or full professor) before taking any other step. Without it, you cannot participate.
2. Consult the full text of the call: access the official resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-7882) to identify the positions announced by field of knowledge, the exact application deadlines and the specific requirements for each position.
3. Identify positions in your field: locate in the annex of the call the positions corresponding to your field of knowledge and teaching body to determine whether there are relevant options for your profile.
4. Prepare documentation: compile your academic record, research history, teaching record and management experience that you will need to present before the evaluation committee. Early preparation is key given the high standards of these committees.
5. Submit the application on time: complete and submit the application within the deadlines indicated in the call. Late submission results in automatic exclusion from the process.
6. Follow the process before the evaluation committee: once admitted, prepare the defence of your teaching and research project and any other assessments established by the committee for your field and body.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7882